BBC Radio 4 LW

Saving Species

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Examining the world of nature and the challenges of wildlife conservation

Saving Species: Series 1

Saving Species: Series 1: Episode 40

Series 1

Episode 40

BBC Radio 4 - Saving Species, Series 1, Episode 40

What is the better approach to conservation, saving species or wilderness?

Is it possible to save all the wildlife on Earth? Saving Species explores how decisions are made to save species and habitat. Is saving species in conflict with saving wilderness?

40/40. The Californian Condor was brought back from the brink of extinction in the US by hand rearing condor chicks in captivity, releasing them back in the wild and guarding their subsequent nest sites around the clock. Today, Californian Condors live and breed in the wild. But not many. By anyone's standards, the investment of people-hours, know how, planning and protection in one wild species was large. Why was the Californian Condor such an important species? And were there wider benefits from the conservation investment than the survival of one large bird species? 

If we accept that saving all endangered species might not be practical, affordable or possible - then how are decisions made about what to save? What questions have to be asked and how do conservationists reconcile the balance of winners and losers in any decision made? 

We have a special report from Howard Stableford who went to see the Californian Condor project and we'll have James Leape, International Director General WWF live into the programme. 

David Robinson, Professor of Biology at the Open University will be in the studio looking at the performance of iSpot across 40 episodes of Saving Species.

And our news hound Kelvin Boot will be in the studio too. The proposed sale of British woodlands no doubt high on his list of weekly stories.

Presented by Brett Westwood
Produced by Mary Colwell
Series Editor Julian Hector.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Brett Westwood examines the world of nature and the challenges of wildlife conservation

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Saving Species

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Episode 40

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